Dynamic Sample Rack Routing in Analytical Laboratories
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Solution Overview
Problem
Analytical laboratories face significant delays and inefficiencies due to sub-optimal routing of biological samples, leading to increased turn-around times and suboptimal use of laboratory instruments.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to dynamically determine an optimal transportation route for sample racks in analytical laboratories, taking into account changes in laboratory status and individual sample events, by using a control unit that retrieves test orders, sets constraints, and optimizes routes based on an objective function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the route of a complete sample rack is determined at a point before the sample rack enters the transportation system, then the routing process is simple and fast, but a change of the route as a reaction to a change of the laboratory status or individual sample events cannot be taken into account
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic route determination by continuously monitoring laboratory status changes (instrument availability, workload, sample events) and recalculating optimal transportation routes in real-time. The control unit receives status information from multiple sources and dynamically adjusts sample rack routes before transportation, enabling the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining efficient turn-around times.
2Productivity
If the number of configurable transportation routes is limited due to physical or logical constraints, then the transportation system is simpler to manage, but the flexibility of routing samples is reduced since the number of optimal routes might be higher than the number of configured routes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by introducing a temporal dimension to route determination. Instead of relying solely on the spatial configuration of fixed transportation routes, the system determines optimal routes by considering the sequence and timing of sample processing steps across multiple instruments. This allows the system to effectively create unlimited routing possibilities using the existing physical transportation infrastructure, maximizing test throughput without increasing transportation system complexity.
3Productivity
If samples are transported in sample racks for transporting multiple sample holders at a time, then the transportation efficiency is improved, but the routing becomes more complex as the transportation route must take into account the test orders of all biological samples in the same sample rack
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by breaking down the complex routing problem into individual sample-level test order requirements. The control unit retrieves and analyzes test orders for each biological sample within the sample rack, then synthesizes this information to determine an optimal transportation route that satisfies all individual sample requirements. This segmentation approach enables efficient batch transportation while maintaining the flexibility to accommodate diverse testing needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating an analytical laboratory is disclosed. The method comprises receiving and identifying sample containers and sorting them into a sample rack, retrieving an order list A comprising test orders corresponding to the sample containers within the sample rack, determining an optimal transportation route for the sample rack based on the order list A, a set of constraints and an objective function, the optimal transportation route being indicative of a list and/or sequence of laboratory instrument(s) required to complete the order list A, re-determining the optimal transportation route upon a change of the constraint(s) and/or of the objective function, transporting the sample rack to one or more of the laboratory instruments according to the optimal transportation route by the sample transportation system, and processing the biological samples according to the corresponding test orders by the target laboratory instrument(s).